‘Go To Iran’: Asim Munir’s Iftar Shia Insult Sparks Sectarian Storm In Pakistan | Exclusive Details Reported By : CNN-News18Last Updated:March 20, 2026,
In his Friday sermon, Pakistani religious leader Syed Jawad Naqvi declared a metaphorical 'war' against what he termed an anti-Shia agenda.
In what is being described as a watershed moment for sectarian relations in Pakistan, a high-profile Iftar gathering on March 19 has ignited a nationwide firestorm. CNN-News18 has accessed exclusive details of the meeting bwhere Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Syed Asim Munir, reportedly delivered a direct and humiliating rebuke to the country’s top Shia ulema. Sources present at the event describe a tense, one-hour monologue in which the General refused to allow the religious scholars even a single minute to respond or raise the pressing concerns of their community. The encounter has left the Shia leadership feeling fundamentally insulted, with Maulana Hasnain Abbas Gardezi noting that the General’s tone and the triviality of some of his remarks were entirely unbecoming of an officer holding such a high-profile constitutional office.
The ‘Go to Iran’ Ultimatum
The crux of the outrage stems from a specific, inflammatory remark made by General Munir during the session. While addressing the scholars, he reportedly told them, “If you love Iran so much, then go to Iran." This framing has been interpreted by the community as an attempt to equate religious and emotional solidarity with a foreign spiritual centre as proof of disloyalty to the Pakistani state. Allama Nazir Abbas Taqvi, who attempted to intervene multiple times during the speech to seek a dialogue, expressed shock at the General’s manner. Despite being promised a follow-up session after dinner, the scholars were reportedly left waiting as the Army Chief made a sudden exit, further deepening the sense of professional and personal disrespect.
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